Five takeaways from AP Top 25 women's basketball poll

This week's Associated Press Top 25 women's basketball poll, released on Monday, features a newcomer to the top five and some movement toward the bottom of the rankings.

Here are five takeaways from the poll.

Notre Dame vaults into top five after picking up third win over an AP top five opponent this season

While UCLA (10-0) and South Carolina (10-1) remain at the top, the Notre Dame Fighting Irish (9-2) jump five spots to No. 3 after taking down then-No. 2 UConn, 79-68.

The team's star, Hannah Hidalgo, was sensational with 29 points, 10 rebounds and eight assists. Hidalgo has recorded at least 20 points in nine of the Fighting Irish's 11 games this season.

With wins already over top five USC and Texas teams, Notre Dame has turned its season around after back-to-back losses a few weeks ago.

Although injuries have plagued the Fighting Irish, Emma Risch and Cassandre Prosper became the first Notre Dame teammates in the last 25 years to post 20 points off the bench in the same game on Sunday vs. Eastern Michigan, which shows the talent that exists on this team in spite of the lack of depth.

UConn drops two spots after suffering first setback

After starting the season 9-0, the UConn Huskies lost their first game of the season to Notre Dame.

While star Paige Bueckers had 25 points (11-for-20), the team's three-point shooting was abysmal (18.8 percent).

On the bright side, freshman Sarah Strong became the only UConn freshman in the last 25 years to post 15 points, 10 rebounds and five assists in a game on Sunday against Georgetown. Considering the plethora of talent that Geno Auriemma has coached, that has to be encouraging for a team that dropped two spots in the poll to No. 4.

Michigan State, Georgia Tech continue to climb up rankings after undefeated starts

The Michigan State Spartans jump up two spots to No. 15 amid their first 10-0 start in program history and longest winning streak since 2010-11. 

The Spartans used a second half rally to take down then-No. 21 Iowa, 68-66, on Sunday. The win over Iowa snapped Michigan State's 11-game losing streak against AP-ranked opponents.

While the Spartans got outrebounded, 44-35, their defense was difficult to score against once again. Having only allowed two opponents to reach 70 points this season, Michigan State continues to make it hard for opposing teams to find the bottom of the net, which will be especially important in conference play.

The biggest riser in the poll is Georgia Tech (11-0), from No. 25 to No. 17. Georgia Tech is off to its best start in program history after taking down then-No. 14 North Carolina, 82-76. The Yellow Jackets now have two ranked wins after previously knocking off a 21st-ranked Oregon team, 74-58.

If Georgia Tech continues to shoot at a high rate after making 51.7 percent of its shots against the Tar Heels, there may be more in store for a team that is surprising a lot of people so far.

North Carolina drops five spots after loss

For the first time since 2012, the Tar Heels (10-2) lost at home to Georgia Tech. The loss snapped North Carolina's seven-game winning streak and dropped it down to No. 19 in the rankings.

The Tar Heels had been on a recent surge since losing to then-No.2 UConn, 69-58, on Nov. 15, including a commanding 72-53 win over a 14th-ranked and previously unbeaten Kentucky team.

Although North Carolina forced 17 turnovers against Georgia Tech, it trailed by as many as 23 and got dominated on the glass, 41-24. Those two areas need some work toward the second half of the season.

California the lone newcomer to the poll after strong start

The California Golden Bears (11-1), winners of five straight, enter the rankings for the first time since 2019 at No. 24. 

The only setback so far came against Michigan State, 78-72, on Nov. 26. The biggest win for the Golden Bears was a 69-65 takedown of then-No. 19 Alabama. Although California did not shoot well from behind the arc (33.3 percent), its three-point defense (23.5 percent) made up for it. 

Led by sophomore Lulu Twidale (15.6 points per game) and senior Ioanna Krimili (15.4 PPG), the Golden Bears are getting some balanced production, which could continue to help them, especially when they face a tough defense that limits their scoring opportunities.